Part 37 (2/2)
Cynthia looked up in alarht of her, halted in some confusion at what he saw
”Rat me, madam,” he cried, ”I did not know--I had not looked to--” He stopped, and re at last his manners he made her a lo
”Your servant, azed at hi, whereat the pretty gentleman plucked aardly at his ruffles and wished himself elsewhere
”I did not know, madam, that your husband was hurt”
”He is notwhat she said
”Gadso!” he ejaculated ”Yet you ran away frorew crimson
”The door, sir, is behind you”
”So, madam, is that thief the landlord,” he made answer, no whit abashed ”Coentleman is hurt”
Thus courteously sumged Cynthia to allow hientleman's wound Between them they laid Crispin on a couch, and the town spark went to ith a dexterity little to have been expected from his flippant exterior He dressed the wound, which was in the shoulder and not in itself of a dangerous character, the loss of blood it being that had brought soht's condition They propped his head upon a pillow, and presently he sighed and, opening his eyes, co the coxcomb turned leech
”I caame,” Foster explained when they had rieved to find you in this condition”
”Pish, sir, rievous--a scratch, no e that I have gained--” He stopped short ”But there, sir,” he added presently, ”I arateful beyond words for your timelylance nificantly, and shuffled towards the door But Master Foster made no shi+ft to h in apparent hesitation
”I should like a ith you ere I go,” he said at length Then turning and perceiving the landlord standing by the door in an attitude of eloquent waiting: ”Take yourself off,” he cried to hientle forced to speak into your inquisitive ears as well? You will forgive reasy rascal tries one ”I stand thus: I have lost to you to-day a suht account considerable, is in itself no reatly exercised at the loss of certain trinkets which have to me a peculiar value, and which, to be frank, I staked in a moment of desperation I had hoped, sir, to retrieve , for I have still to stake a coach and four horses--as noble a set of beasts as you'll find in England, aye rat me Your wound, sir, renders it iue of obliging me I coainst my note of hand for the amount that was staked on them I am well known in town, sir,” he added hurriedly, ”and you need have no anxiety”
Crispin stopped him with a wave of the hand
”I have none, sir, in that connexion, and I aest” He thrust his hand into his pocket, and drew forth the rings, the brooch and the ear-ring he had won ”Here, sir, are your trinkets”
”Sir,” cried Mr Foster, thrown into soenerosity, ”I am indebted to you Rat me, sir, I am indeed You shall have my note of hand on the instant How much shall we say?”
”Oneto him ”You mentioned horses Are they fresh?”
”As June roses”
”And you are returning to London, are you not?”
”I am”